There is a fine line between a successful and a failed project but that line is often not visible to project managers until it is too late. Some of the reasons for projects failing to achieve their objectives are insufficiency of resources, non-committed team members, poorer leadership, insufficient communication, and scope creep. However, in some cases, the lack of proper technical documentation leads to unfulfilled initiatives. According to Monday.com reviews, it is the best software for completing project documentation and this article explores how.
There are several types of software documentation and this article outlines the benefits of project documentation a robust software like Monday.com demo offers for teams of all sizes and scales.
What is Included in Project Documentation
Project documentation includes all documents that are produced during the software development process. It is essentially all written records of the processes that are supposed to make sure the tea is aligned, clients are satisfied and the project is on the right track. Software documentation holds everything together and establishes confidence in the final product. Even in Agile environments, there is some form of written proof of every process and you cannot eliminate documentation.
Monday.com reviews say their project documentation requirements varied depending on a few factors. If the company only works with non-tech clients then the documentation will be detailed but written in layman terms. However, for clients that are well-versed with the latest technology and familiar with all the technical terms, the written documentation will very different. The size o the project will also determine how much documentation is required as well as the client’s preferences or legal requirements.
Types of Project Documentation
It is important to lay the groundwork with software documentation and it operates as a user manual that helps take care of the following tasks. Each type of project documentation listed below is included in the Monday.com pricing plans.
User Documentation
It explains how the product is to be used and is essentially a guide for new users. Detailed user documentation will help clients know what to do so they will not completely rely on customer support for answers. It includes all frequently asked questions, user guides, and everything else the final user might need to make sure the product fulfills all the original requirements.
Process Documentation
This is meant to create a universal understanding of what the final product will be. It is completed during the early stages of the project and outlines the entire process. These documents include all the plans, estimates, schedules, and user stories upon which the project objectives are based. This documentation is necessary to get the project off the ground and complete it successfully by achieving all targets.
System Documentation
It includes all details related to the software’s features and functions. The software explains how they all work and what is the breadth of their utility. It usually includes only technical details and can also house the original code for software-based projects. Monday software has complete details related to the testing and maintenance of the product. Every technical document is useful for the maintenance of functional requirements and should not skip.
Benefits of Project Documentation
Many companies view project documentation as a chore and consider its administrative work. They want to be rid of the responsibility and do not recognize the value it delivers to stakeholders. Companies can sometimes go overboard with the documentation processes but when it is done right, it can offer many benefits to those involved. Some of them are listed below.
- Providing answers to the most frequently asked questions by team leaders, managers as well as junior support staff. Some of the pressure lifted off them because they do not have to run after the answers.
- Lists down the key milestones and important dates related to the project. They mean to make sure the project is always on track.
- Verifies that the product vision meets the customer’s needs and stakeholder’s strategy. Putting everything in writing provides perspective and helps make sure things are progressing smoothly.
- Organizes the efforts of the team since the mock-ups, wireframes, guideposts, and user stories show the company what the final product should look like.
- Establishes ownership for key project areas in clear-cut detail so everyone is aware of their job role and responsibilities.
There are a lot of benefits to the organization and the possibilities continue to emerge as long as the documentation is framed the right way.
How Monday.com Helps with the Documentation
Monday.com reviews mention its usefulness in the documentation process with built-in templates for user guides and fact sheets. It has a lot of tools like the Gantt charts that help document everything. They document the project by creating a single resource for the entire project team. These boards are the main hub for all relevant tasks and they are supposed to list down the due dates, statuses, ownership, and other information.
Each feature can be used to facilitate the documentation process. The Workdocs is also useful because the entire team can collaborate on it simultaneously. It is saved on the Monday.com demo platform and can be shared with anyone within or outside the organization. Everything can organize into neat file-sharing columns which embedded on the boards and into the workflow. Users can also comment on documents, images, and relevant tasks to ask questions, share feedback or provide status updates.
Roadmap for Success
Monday.com reviews praise the software’s ability to completely feature all work-related tasks on a single system. It helps create and store project plans as well as software project documentation. The entire team and their workflow, task lists, and dashboards are saved on a singular system. Tracking Scrum boards, documentation, and product iterations are made easy and users save a lot of time and energy.
There is a project documentation template that can be used to set everything up in a matter of minutes. Monday.com helps teams follow the standard operating procedures and guarantee high satisfaction rates from all their clients.